Written Answers Monday 6 November 2006

Charities

Dr Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what entitlement charities that run shops or cafes in connection with their charitable purposes have to business rate relief.

Mr Tom McCabe: Registered charities are eligible to receive 80% mandatory rates relief and up to 20% discretionary rates relief for running charity shops or cafes. It is for each local authority to determine whether a shop or cafe in their area is used (a) wholly or mainly for the sale of goods donated to a charity, and (b) that the proceeds of such sales (after deduction of expenses) are applied for the purposes of a charity. Subject to satisfaction that these criteria have been met, local authorities have powers to award 80% mandatory rates relief. Local authorities may at their discretion top this relief up to 100%.

  Where a property does not qualify for mandatory relief, local authorities are able to consider the award of discretionary rate relief. Authorities have discretion to grant relief of up to 100% to certain non-profit making bodies. To be eligible for consideration, the ratepayer must be a non-profit making body and the property used for charitable, philanthropic or religious purposes, or concerned with education, social welfare, science, literature or the fine arts, or used wholly or mainly for recreation by a not-for-profit club or society.

Charities

Dr Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what discretionary powers local authorities have to grant business rate relief to registered charities that run shops or cafes in connection with their charitable purposes.

Mr Tom McCabe: Rates relief for organisations established for charitable purposes is governed in Scotland by the Local Government (Financial Provisions Etc.) (Scotland) Act 1962 as amended. It is for each local authority to determine whether a shop or cafe is used (a) wholly or mainly for the sale of goods donated to a charity, and (b) that the proceeds of sale (after deduction of expenses) are applied for the purposes of a charity. Subject to satisfaction that these criteria have been met, local authorities have powers to award 80% mandatory rates relief. Local authorities may at their discretion top this relief up to 100%.

Education

Bill Butler (Glasgow Anniesland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it has taken to evaluate the effectiveness of shared campus/twinning arrangements between denominational and non-denominational schools.

Peter Peacock: Shared campuses and twinning between denominational and non-denominational schools are two different things. Shared campus arrangements involving denominational and non-denominational schools on the same site, are a matter for local authorities. School inspections are the appropriate context in which we will consider the effectiveness of such arrangements.

  In relation to twinning between denominational and non-denominational schools a seminar was held in May 2006 which highlighted effective examples of such twinning.

Education

Bill Butler (Glasgow Anniesland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what structures will be put in place to measure the on-going effectiveness of shared campus/twinning arrangements between denominational and non-denominational schools.

Peter Peacock: Shared campuses and twinning between denominational and non-denominational schools are different things. Shared campus arrangements involving denominational and non-denominational schools on the same site are a matter for local authorities. School inspections are the appropriate context in which we will consider how such arrangements are working.

  We are currently preparing material on twinning between denominational and non-denominational schools, for publication. This will emphasise the importance of self-evaluation of initiatives and highlight the features of effective twinning arrangements, with examples of good practice.

Education

Bill Butler (Glasgow Anniesland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how it intends to disseminate information on best practice with regard to shared campus/twinning arrangements between denominational and non-denominational schools.

Peter Peacock: Shared campuses and twinning between denominational and non-denominational schools are different things. Shared campus arrangements involving denominational and non-denominational schools on the same site are a matter for local authorities. School inspections are the appropriate context in which we will consider how such arrangements are working.

  In relation to twinning arrangements we drew directly on the experiences of schools and others at a seminar held in May 2006 to promote the benefits of twinning between denominational and non-denominational schools. Material on such twinning is currently being prepared for publication and dissemination to all schools, and will feature examples of best practice.

Health

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the average number of (a) nurses and (b) doctors was per 100 hospital beds in each of the last 10 years, broken down by NHS board.

Mr Andy Kerr: The information requested has been placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 40809).

Higher Education

Mr Bruce McFee (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-25754 by Nicol Stephen on 13 June 2006, whether UCAS was contacted to obtain information about the number of applicants to dental schools; how many successful applicants were accepted because their entrance qualifications were (a) Scottish highers, (b) Scottish advanced highers, (c) English A levels, (d) Welsh A levels, (e) the Welsh baccalaureate qualification, (f) Northern Irish A levels and (g) other qualifications, and how many graduates stayed in Scotland to practice.

Nicol Stephen: The University and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) was not contacted to obtain the information you requested for S2W-25754 as they do not release aggregations involving less than six higher education institutions (HEI) without the express permission of the affected member institutions and therefore would not have released dentistry figures for Scotland.

  I have asked my officials to approach UCAS for information to respond to your current question. With the agreement of the two universities who offer dentistry courses in Scotland the following tables have now been made available. The tables show the types of qualifications applicants had. All qualifications, not a single one, are considered by universities in their admissions process.

  The tables show, for each university and for Scotland as a whole, the number of all applicants followed by the number of applicants who have accepted an offer. As some people have a mixture of different qualifications the total number of applicants/acceptances is less than the sum of the detailed columns.

  Applicants for Pre-Clinical Dentistry

  University of Glasgow

  

Year
Total
Scottish Highers
Scottish Advanced Highers
A Levels
Other


2003
 365
 135 
 81 
 189 
 244 


2004
 414 
 169 
 112 
 176 
 390 


2005
 562 
 190 
 138 
 285 
 535 


Grand Total
 1,341 
 494 
 331 
 650 
 1,169 



  University of Dundee

  

Year
Total
Scottish Highers
Scottish Advanced Highers
A Levels
Other


2003
 310 
 131 
 82 
 127 
 195 


2004
 371 
 172 
 119 
 133 
 351 


2005
 504 
 213 
 152 
 208 
 478 


Grand Total
 1,185 
 516 
 353 
 468 
 1,024 



  Total Scotland

  

Year
Total
Scottish Highers
Scottish Advanced Highers
A Levels
Other


2003
 675 
 266 
 163 
 316 
 439 


2004
 785 
 341 
 231 
 309 
 741 


2005
 1,066 
 403 
 290 
 493 
 1,013 


Grand Total
 2,526 
 1,010 
 684 
 1,118 
 2,193 



  Acceptances for Pre-Clinical Dentistry

  University of Glasgow

  

Year
Total
Scottish Highers
Scottish Advanced Highers
A Levels
Other


2003
83 
62 
45 
23 
33 


2004
89 
66 
54 
27 
89 


2005
88 
49 
41 
37 
84 


Grand Total
260 
177 
140 
87 
206 



  University of Dundee

  

Year
Total
Scottish Highers
Scottish Advanced Highers
A Levels
Other


2003
 64 
 38 
 23 
 21 
 32 


2004
 82 
 60 
 41 
 21 
 77 


2005
 92 
 73 
 58 
 22 
 91 


Grand Total
 238 
 171 
 122 
 64 
 200 



  Total Scotland

  

Year
Total
Scottish Highers
Scottish Advanced Highers
A Levels
Other


2003
 147 
 100 
 68 
 44 
 65 


2004
 171 
 126 
 95 
 48 
 166 


2005
 180 
 122 
 99 
 59 
 175 


Grand Total
 498 
 348 
 262 
 151 
 406 



  The number of graduates staying in Scotland to work is available from a voluntary survey six months after graduation.

  The following table shows the estimated number of graduates of clinical dentistry from Scottish universities who were employed in Scotland, for the last three years.

  Table: Clinical Dentistry Graduates Working in Scotland Six Months after Graduation

  

Academic Year of Graduation
Number of Graduates in Year
% of Respondents Employed in Scotland
Estimated Number of Graduates Employed in Scotland


2002-03
125
78%
100


2003-04
125
75%
95


2004-05
130
89%
115



  Source: Higher Education Statistics Agency amended by Scottish Executive*; numbers have been rounded to the nearest five.

  Note: *The number of graduates reported by the University of Dundee to the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) has been queried with the Dental School at Dundee. For 2002-03 and 2003-04 the dental school records show a substantially different number of graduates, caused by a timing difference. In the table above the Dental School records have been included for those two academic years, in preference to HESA data.

Housing

Rob Gibson (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what Highland-representation there is on the Affordable Housing Working Group.

Malcolm Chisholm: The Affordable Housing Working Group includes representation from various local authorities across Scotland, as well as other organisations including the Scottish Federation of Housing Associations, Homes for Scotland and COSLA. In the event that the Highland Council wished to pursue an issue through the Affordable Housing Working Group, they could raise this with COSLA.

Housing

Rob Gibson (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive on what dates and at which venues each meeting of the Affordable Housing Working Group have taken place.

Malcolm Chisholm: The first meeting of the Affordable Housing Working Group took place on 17 July 2006, at the Macdonald Holyrood Hotel, Edinburgh. The next meeting of the Group is scheduled for 8 November 2006 at the Thistle Hotel in Edinburgh.

Housing

Rob Gibson (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether there are any plans to widen the remit and membership of the Affordable Housing Working Group.

Malcolm Chisholm: The remit of the Affordable Housing Working Group is "to establish means of securing the more effective supply of affordable housing in areas of greatest need." The group is at an early stage in its deliberations and there are no plans at this stage to amend either the remit or the membership, which is drawn from representatives of COSLA, four local authorities and a number of stakeholder interests. The future work of the group will be one of the issues considered at the next meeting in November.

Housing

Rob Gibson (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether minutes of the meetings of the Affordable Housing Working Group will be published.

Malcolm Chisholm: Minutes of the Affordable Housing Working Group have not been published but I intend to ensure that, with the assistance of COSLA, the main conclusions from the Group’s discussions are shared with a wider audience.

Housing

Rob Gibson (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether research it has commissioned on the allocation of land for housing has been completed and, if so, whether it will be published.

Malcolm Chisholm: The Scottish Executive commissioned Tribal Consulting to conduct research into the Allocation of Land for Affordable Housing. This report is close to completion and we anticipate that it will be published as part of the Social Research Findings series.

Housing

Ms Maureen Watt (North East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many rural home ownership grants have been awarded in each relevant local authority area in each year since 1999, also showing year-on-year percentage changes.

Malcolm Chisholm: I have asked Angiolina Foster, Chief Executive of Communities Scotland, to respond. Her response is as follows:

  The number of rural home ownership grants that have been awarded in each relevant local authority area since 1999, showing year-on-year percentage changes, is shown in the following table:

  Number of Rural Home Ownership Grant Awards by Relevant Local Authority Area (1999-2000 – 2005-06)

  

Local Authority
1999-2000
2000-01
2001-02
2002-03
2003-04
2004-05
2005-06


Aberdeenshire
1
0
0
1
1
1
1


Argyll and Bute
4
4
8
1
10
9
6


Highland
16
22
15
27
36
42
32


Moray
1
0
0
0
0
0
0


Orkney Islands
14
17
25
26
28
38
36


Perth and Kinross
1
2
1
3
1
18
1


Shetland Islands
6
2
5
3
1
4
4


The Scottish Borders
4
2
1
2
3
5
5


Western Isles
3
2
0
1
3
2
2


Total
50
51
55
64
83
119
87


Percentage changes
n/a
2%
8%
16%
30%
43%
-27%

Housing

Ms Maureen Watt (North East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many rural home ownership grant applications have been submitted in each relevant local authority area since 1999, also showing year-on-year percentage changes.

Malcolm Chisholm: I have asked Angiolina Foster, Chief Executive of Communities Scotland, to respond. Her response is as follows:

  Information is available from financial year 2002-03 onwards. The number of applications for rural home ownership grant submitted in each relevant local authority area in financial years 2002-03, 2003-04, 2004-05 and 2005-06, showing year-on-year percentage changes, is shown in the following table:

  Number of Rural Home Ownership Grant Applications Received by Relevant Local Authority Area (2002-03 to 2005-06)

  

Local Authority
2002-03
2003-04
2004-05
2005-06


Aberdeenshire
1
2
2
2


Argyll and Bute
1
12
10
6


Highland
32
39
45
34


North Ayrshire
1
1
1
0


Orkney Islands
26
29
39
39


Perth and Kinross
8
1
25
1


Shetland Islands
3
4
4
6


The Scottish Borders
2
3
6
7


Western Isles
3
5
3
4


Total
77
96
135
99


Percentage changes
n/a
24.7%
40.6%
-26.7%

Housing

Ms Maureen Watt (North East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how it promotes rural home ownership grants.

Malcolm Chisholm: I have asked Angiolina Foster, Chief Executive of Communities Scotland, to respond. Her response is as follows:

  We continue to promote rural home ownership grants throughout rural Scotland through distribution of our brochures which explain the scheme.

  In north east Scotland, copies of the brochures have been placed in Aberdeenshire Council’s local housing offices. In addition, the Rural Housing Service has recently started working with local people and community groups in Aberdeenshire to make them aware of grants that are available and how they can be accessed. This includes providing information about rural home ownership grants.

  Angus Council’s website also contains information on rural home ownership grants.

Housing

Ms Maureen Watt (North East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the eligibility criteria are for rural home ownership grants.

Malcolm Chisholm: I have asked Angiolina Foster, Chief Executive of Communities Scotland, to respond. Her response is as follows:

  Rural home ownership grants are targeted at areas where people have limited opportunities to build or buy a home that meets their needs within their own communities. Grants are targeted at local people in employment who are first-time buyers. Previous homeowners can apply for grant assistance, although any capital gain from the sale of previous property is taken into account when deciding whether an application can be considered for funding.

  Grant applicants should be on low or modest incomes and are means tested. Grant awards are the minimum necessary to allow projects to proceed, and do not normally exceed 33 per cent of approved project costs.

  The size of the applicant household is used to determine the size of the property that can be funded.

Housing

Ms Maureen Watt (North East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many council houses have been sold in each year since 1999, broken down by local authority and showing year-on-year percentage changes.

Malcolm Chisholm: The following table shows the total number of sales of council dwellings from 1999 to 2005:

  Sales of Council Dwellings: 1999 to 2005

  

Local Authority Area
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005


Scotland
13,188
13,959
14,607
15,943
15,889
11,626
9,821


% change from previous year
 
6%
5%
9%
 
-16%
-16%


Aberdeen City
790
718
670
600
746
515
546


Aberdeenshire
320
441
387
449
393
277
325


Angus
228
256
194
236
251
237
314


Argyll and Bute
156
108
153
218
299
262
187


Clackmannanshire
124
104
136
191
230
120
109


Dumfries and Galloway
337
396
349
404
na
na
na


Dundee City
256
296
1,725
237
265
260
281


East Ayrshire
524
606
505
595
679
489
499


East Dunbartonshire
191
159
167
231
388
223
162


East Lothian
193
288
276
471
426
287
178


East Renfrewshire
60
118
127
167
141
86
100


City of Edinburgh
670
680
524
742
908
890
374


Eilean Siar
35
33
37
69
64
48
49


Falkirk
377
512
566
787
751
605
588


Fife
825
752
860
952
1,383
1,074
928


City of Glasgow
1,635
1,817
1,730
1,938
na
na
na


Highland
614
677
554
643
646
592
528


Inverclyde
364
389
287
286
282
..
..


Midlothian
204
186
241
330
384
276
158


Moray
165
158
147
203
183
195
198


North Ayrshire
391
420
387
493
585
499
487


North Lanarkshire
1,387
1,499
1,445
1,518
1,593
1,252
1,085


Orkney
45
29
22
24
34
27
18


Perth and Kinross
246
214
178
302
368
275
240


Renfrewshire
408
461
611
738
670
478
457


Scottish Borders
244
321
243
220
na
na
na


Shetland
108
71
54
85
60
33
50


South Ayrshire
247
227
235
280
470
380
249


South Lanarkshire
1,166
1,100
882
1,229
1,534
1,139
884


Stirling
212
231
218
309
295
264
176


West Dunbartonshire
251
209
224
305
430
331
295


West Lothian
415
483
473
691
846
440
356



  Source: Sales 3 returns by local authorities to the Scottish Executive Development Department Analytical Services Division (Housing Statistics).

  Notes:

  1. Figures shown are for all sales including sales to sitting tenants, rent to mortgage, voluntary sales, sales to private developers, voluntary transfers to registered social landlords, tenants’ choice sales and other sales.

  2. Due to housing stock transfers, figures for Dumfries and Galloway, City of Glasgow and Scottish Borders are excluded from 2003 onward, and the percentage change between 2002 and 2003 is therefore not shown.

  3. The following symbols are used:

  - nil.

  .. not available.

  na not applicable.

Housing

Ms Maureen Watt (North East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many council houses have been constructed in each year since 1999, broken down by local authority and showing year-on-year percentage changes.

Malcolm Chisholm: The following table shows the number of new build completions by local authorities from 1999 to 2003.

  New Build Completions by Local Authorities: 1999 to 2003

  

 
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003


Scotland
81
95
72
51
53


Aberdeen City
-
-
18
27
53


Aberdeenshire
46
-
-
-
-


Angus
-
-
-
-
-


Argyll and Bute
-
-
-
-
-


Clackmannanshire
-
-
-
-
-


Dumfries and Galloway
-
-
-
-
-


Dundee City
-
-
-
-
-


East Ayrshire
-
-
-
-
-


East Dunbartonshire
-
-
-
-
-


East Lothian
-
-
-
-
-


East Renfrewshire
-
-
-
-
-


Edinburgh, City of
-
-
-
-
-


Eilean Siar
-
-
-
-
-


Falkirk
-
-
-
-
-


Fife
1
2
-
-
-


Glasgow City
5
89
-
18
-


Highland
12
-
-
1
-


Inverclyde
-
-
-
-
-


Midlothian
17
4
24
-
-


Moray
-
-
-
-
-


North Ayrshire
-
-
-
5
-


North Lanarkshire
-
-
30
-
-


Orkney
-
-
-
-
-


Perth and Kinross
-
-
-
-
-


Renfrewshire
-
-
-
-
-


Scottish Borders, The
-
-
-
-
-


Shetland
-
-
-
-
-


South Ayrshire
-
-
-
-
-


South Lanarkshire
-
-
-
-
-


Stirling
-
-
-
-
-


West Dunbartonshire
-
-
-
-
-


West Lothian
-
-
-
-
-



  Source: New build returns by local authorities to the Scottish Executive Development Department Analytical Services Division (Housing Statistics).

  Notes:

  1. There have been no completions of new local authority dwellings since 2003. However, Shetland report that six local authority dwellings were started in 2005.

  2. The numbers of completions by local authorities is too small for the percentage change from year to year to be meaningful.

  3. The following symbols are used – nil.

Housing

Ms Maureen Watt (North East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many affordable homes have been constructed in each year since 1999, broken down by local authority area and showing year-on-year percentage changes.

Malcolm Chisholm: The following tables show the number of affordable homes approved by Communities Scotland by local authority area in each year since 1999 and the number of affordable homes completed since 2002-03, showing the percentage change. Information on completions is not available by local authority area before 2002-03.

  Table 1: Number of new and improved homes supported by the Development Programme approved by Communities Scotland.

  Total Approved Units by Local Authority Summary 1999-2000 to 2005-06

  

Unitary Authority
1999-2000
2000-01
2001-02
2002-03
2003-04
2004-05
2005-06


Aberdeenshire
206
206
193
309
221
147
246


Angus
123
115
108
93
98
48
172


Argyll and Bute
131
76
70
79
89
307
198


City of Aberdeen
209
190
113
111
233
153
72


City of Dundee
172
406
312
87
360
297
212


City of Edinburgh
764
370
324
271
517
422
858


City of Glasgow
1,873
1,463
1,638
1,589
1,373
1,139
920


Clackmannanshire
0
72
28
50
27
33
26


Dumfries and Galloway
125
162
96
98
154
188
196


East Ayrshire
63
72
36
0
40
10
96


East Dunbartonshire
81
0
10
4
13
142
66


East Lothian
33
18
34
0
163
47
106


East Renfrewshire
63
41
60
15
4
0
117


Falkirk
91
76
34
16
32
70
4


Fife
295
333
231
212
255
193
254


Highland
161
294
182
246
268
267
682


Inverclyde
144
193
184
135
128
147
219


Midlothian
28
0
45
14
1
31
128


Moray
56
35
10
4
92
159
222


North Ayrshire
93
39
126
71
79
86
125


North Lanarkshire
393
327
370
194
377
334
241


Orkney Islands
73
52
75
48
72
42
56


Perth and Kinross
334
103
148
182
152
396
258


Renfrewshire
255
206
276
269
353
109
318


Shetland Islands
38
7
40
7
38
59
18


South Ayrshire
81
146
95
80
60
70
121


South Lanarkshire
187
396
199
331
426
250
227


Stirling
115
107
59
35
114
19
33


The Scottish Borders
109
110
71
63
64
60
45


West Dunbartonshire
221
264
55
79
308
81
127


West Lothian
154
102
90
65
105
54
128


Western Isles
16
24
40
2
60
48
56


Total 
6,687
6,005
5,352
4,759
6,276
5,408
6,547


Percentage Change
n/a
-10.2%
-10.9%
-11.1%
31.9%
-13.8%
21.1%



  Table 2: Number of new and improved homes supported by the development programme completed.

  Total Completions by Local Authority from 2002-03 to 2005-06

  

Unitary Authority
2002-03
2003-04
2004-05
2005-06


Aberdeenshire
174
154
268
213


Angus
128
84
108
93


Argyll and Bute
5
84
59
114


City of Aberdeen
125
79
129
137


City of Dundee
113
167
328
342


City of Edinburgh
457
199
461
569


City of Glasgow
1,493
1,608
1,414
1,231


Clackmannanshire
28
58
20
27


Dumfries and Galloway
60
128
83
141


East Ayrshire
102
2
6
11


East Dunbartonshire
0
4
8
142


East Lothian
4
30
159
35


East Renfrewshire
30
0
15
46


Falkirk
86
16
33
0


Fife
296
154
155
266


Highland
202
173
202
263


Inverclyde
150
101
127
130


Midlothian
33
27
4
111


Moray
35
2
55
178


North Ayrshire
76
78
75
80


North Lanarkshire
348
160
208
477


Orkney Islands
53
26
103
46


Perth and Kinross
132
159
159
128


Renfrewshire
205
121
184
335


Shetland Islands
15
3
84
6


South Ayrshire
163
42
94
19


South Lanarkshire
278
212
412
293


Stirling
113
61
95
52


The Scottish Borders
60
64
82
55


West Dunbartonshire
34
110
128
276


West Lothian
50
45
165
16


Western Isles
20
3
22
56


Total 
5,068
4,154
5,445
5,888


Percentage Change
n/a
-18.0%
31.1%
8.1%

Housing

Ms Maureen Watt (North East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much has been paid out in respect of compulsory purchase orders in each year since 1999, broken down by local authority area and showing year-on-year percentage changes.

Ms Maureen Watt (North East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the average compulsory purchase order payment has been in each local authority area in each year since 1999, also showing year-on-year percentage changes.

Johann Lamont: Where the Scottish ministers act as the confirming authority, the information requested is not held centrally.

  Where the Scottish ministers act as the promoter of trunk roads schemes requiring the compulsory purchase of land, the information requested could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

Housing

Ms Maureen Watt (North East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many homes have been compulsorily purchased in each local authority area in each year since 1999, also showing year-on-year percentage changes.

Johann Lamont: Where the Scottish ministers act as the confirming authority, the information requested is not held centrally. Once an order has been confirmed, the acquiring authority has up to three years to implement the order. Ministers may not subsequently be informed whether the order has been implemented.

  Where the Scottish ministers act as the promoter of trunk road schemes a draft compulsorily purchase order (CPO) is prepared for the acquisition of all land and property required to build the scheme. The schedule to the CPO gives a description of all plots including any properties to be acquired. There are no separate records kept of the number of homes acquired for each scheme. Residential properties included in a draft CPO are often acquired by agreement in advance of the making of the order thereby enabling the owners to purchase alternative accommodation at the earliest opportunity.

Housing

Ms Maureen Watt (North East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many homes have been demolished in each local authority area in each year since 1999, also showing year-on-year percentage changes.

Malcolm Chisholm: The following table shows the number of dwellings that have been demolished between 1999 and 2005.

  Dwellings Demolished by Local Authority Area: 1999 and 2005

  

Local Authority Area
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005


Scotland
5,552
5,911
6,105
5,204
4,205
4,890
4,323


% change from previous year
 
6%
3%
-15%
-19%
16%
-12%


Aberdeen City
-
-
-
-
17
-
-


Aberdeenshire
8
20
7
21
15
19
27


Angus
20
46
96
56
53
8
114


Argyll and Bute
15
12
17
10
40
54
155


Clackmannanshire
15
6
2
-
-
-
30


Dumfries and Galloway
15
2
1
3
13
6
9


Dundee City
493
634
474
544
277
1,001
432


East Ayrshire
49
62
84
168
373
169
408


East Dunbartonshire
6
79
77
-
5
6
11


East Lothian
-
-
-
-
2
3
-


East Renfrewshire
16
3
115
2
4
5
79


City of Edinburgh
555
281
369
339
180
316
119


Eilean Siar
49
24
24
14
11
43
25


Falkirk
-
1
-
-
-
-
80


Fife
309
17
18
154
53
118
7


City of Glasgow
2,496
2,882
2,947
2,206
1,406
1,774
2,011


Highland
1
8
9
11
17
1
8


Inverclyde
235
126
22
157
52
10
-


Midlothian
1
-
1
-
1
-
-


Moray
-
-
-
-
-
8
-


North Ayrshire
2
57
-
50
14
156
2


North Lanarkshire
215
76
529
117
152
36
21


Orkney
2
10
1
3
4
7
3


Perth and Kinross
4
7
13
11
6
7
-


Renfrewshire
158
157
193
229
802
554
162


Scottish Borders
44
33
8
8
-
1
1


Shetland
-
1
1
10
4
-
2


South Ayrshire
-
-
-
-
-
-
4


South Lanarkshire
41
90
45
214
88
160
415


Stirling
-
23
179
22
28
154
8


West Dunbartonshire
775
1,042
792
675
528
265
182


West Lothian
28
212
81
180
60
-
8



  Source: Stock 4 returns by local authorities to the Scottish Executive Development Department Analytical Services Division (Housing Statistics).

  Note: 1. Nil is denoted by -.

Income

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the (a) average wage was of (i) full-time male, (ii) full-time female, (iii) part-time male and (iv) part-time female employees and (b) average household income was of working age households in each of the last 10 years, broken down by local authority area.

Nicol Stephen: (a) The preferred source for earnings estimates is the Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE), which is carried out by the Office for National Statistics. The latest earnings ASHE estimates available are for April 2006.

  I have placed tables from ASHE containing the median gross weekly earnings of full-time males, full-time females, part-time males and part-time females by local authority area for 1997-2006 in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 40813).

  (b) Table 1 presents the median household income estimates for working age adults in Scotland based on the Family Resources Survey. Local authority income estimates are not available.

  Table 1 Median Equivalised Net Disposable Household Income for Working Age Adults, Scotland, 1994-95 to 2004-05 (2004-05 Prices)

  

 
Working Age Adults Median


Equivalised Net Disposable Household Income Before Housing Costs (£ Per Week)
Equivalised Net Disposable Household Income After Housing Costs (£ Per Week)


1994-95
319
268


1995-96
307
259


1996-97
326
271


1997-98
332
276


1998-99
329
278


1999-2000
336
286


2000-01
336
285


2001-02
359
316


2002-03
367
320


2003-04
377
336


2004-05
380
341



  Source: Households Below Average Income, DWP.

  Notes:

  1. Net disposable household income: Total income after deductions for income tax, National Insurance Contributions, council tax, pension contributions and maintenance payments.

  2 Housing costs: Net disposable income but with rent/mortgage payments, water charges, structural insurance premiums, ground rent and service charges deducted.

  3. Equivalised net disposable household income: "Equivalised" Income is used to allow comparisons of living standards between different household types. Income is adjusted to take into account variations in the size and composition of the household. This adjustment reflects the fact that a family of several people requires a higher income than a single person in order for both households to enjoy a comparable standard of living. The key assumption is that all individuals in the household benefit equally from the combined (equivalised) income of the household. There are distinct equivalence scales used for income before housing costs (BHC) and income after housing costs (AHC).

Justice

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many motorists have been (a) cautioned, (b) charged and (c) successfully prosecuted for using (i) noisy exhaust systems and (ii) loud stereo systems in each of the last five years.

Cathy Jamieson: Information at the level of detail requested is not available from the statistics held centrally.

Less Favoured Areas

Ms Rosemary Byrne (South of Scotland) (Sol): To ask the Scottish Executive when the next stage of the Scottish Rural Development Programme will be announced.

Ross Finnie: The timing of the introduction of the new Scotland Rural Development Programme is complicated by a number of factors out with our control. In particular, we need clarity on the terms of the European voluntary modulation regulation before we can formally submit our proposed programme for 2007-13 to the European Commission. We do not expect the voluntary modulation regulation to be adopted before early 2007.

  To ensure we are as ready as we can be to have the programme agreed at that stage, my officials are working up drafts of the programme for informal consideration by the Commission in advance of the adoption of the voluntary modulation regulation.

Less Favoured Areas

Ms Rosemary Byrne (South of Scotland) (Sol): To ask the Scottish Executive what level of modulation will be set for the Scottish Rural Development Programme.

Ross Finnie: In line with previous statements in relation to modulation, we expect the combined EU and national modulation rate to be at least 10% by 2007. The EU contribution to this rate is fixed at 5%. Any increase in national modulation beyond 5% will be implemented in a way that respects pressures on the stability of farm incomes, for example through a stepped change that avoids sharp increases.

  Access to voluntary modulation for the next Scotland Rural Development Programme is dependent on adoption of the European voluntary modulation regulation. A draft has been put forward by the European Commission but this has not found favour with the Agriculture Committee of the European Parliament which is seeking its withdrawal. This is unlikely to happen but its passage will be delayed, probably into early 2007, delaying the start of the next programme in Scotland.

  Furthermore, the ability to set a modulation rate for Scotland will require an appropriate amendment to the existing draft regulation which only allows for the rate to be set at a member state level. This amendment is being actively pursued.

Less Favoured Areas

Ms Rosemary Byrne (South of Scotland) (Sol): To ask the Scottish Executive whether less favoured area payments will be made on time and in full, in light of reports of problems with the Scottish Rural Development Programme.

Ross Finnie: We expect less favoured area payments for 2007, 2008, and 2009 to be made in full, towards the end of each calendar year. In recognition of the financial costs arising from the change from traditional spring payments, we have proposed to the European Commission that we make a one-off supplementary payment of £10 million in addition to payments already made in 2006.

Livestock

Mr Jamie Stone (Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to ease restrictions and controls on the movement of livestock between farms which are not contiguous but are owned by the same farming business, given that foot-and-mouth disease has been eradicated in the United Kingdom.

Ross Finnie: Keepers of livestock are required to report and record movements of livestock between holdings to comply with EU disease control legislation and not as result of the foot and mouth disease outbreak. The current sheep and goat movement reporting requirements take as pragmatic approach as possible within the scope of the legislation. Keepers can reduce their reporting and recording requirements by amalgamating permanent locations where the land area would be classed as one epidemiological unit for disease control purposes. A similar concession is available where the keeper takes land nearby on a temporary or seasonal basis.

  Although business practices can be taken into account when assessing an epidemiological unit, some businesses can have several holdings spread over vast distances or elsewhere in GB. This is why movement reporting and recording exemptions cannot be safely applied at business level.

  Requirements for cattle keepers will be reviewed shortly to bring them into line with the sheep and goat system. It is essential our traceability systems continue to work effectively so we can act quickly should another outbreak of disease occur.

Mental Health

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what total expenditure was on gene research in respect of mental health projects in each of the last three years for which figures are available.

Lewis Macdonald: The Chief Scientist Office (CSO) within the Scottish Executive Health Department has responsibility for encouraging and supporting research into health and health care needs in Scotland. During the period 2003-04 through to 2005-06, the CSO expenditure on research projects on genetics and mental health amounted to £160,423. Expenditure in each of the three years was as follows:

  2003-04: £25,731

  2004-05: £75,934

  2005-06: £58,758.

  This expenditure relates to three research projects, awarded total funding of £493,546 during the period March 2000 through to June 2007. Two of the projects are completed and one is still on-going.

  The CSO would welcome further research proposals in this area which would be subject to the usual peer and committee review process.

NHS Waiting Times

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the average waiting time has been for an appointment with a psychologist in each year since 1999, broken down by NHS board.

Mr Andy Kerr: The information requested is not available centrally. Data on waiting times is collected centrally only for first out-patient appointments at consultant-led out-patient clinics, following referral by a General Medical or Dental Practitioner, and for hospital in-patient and day case treatment. Psychology services are provided by a range of health care professionals, and are carried out in a variety of settings.

Prison Service

Brian Adam (Aberdeen North) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how staffing numbers in the Scottish Prison Service have changed in the last five years, broken down by prison.

Cathy Jamieson: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) to respond. His response is as follows:

  The information in the following table is shown per financial year.

  

Establishment
At April 2002
At April 2003
At April 2004
At April 2005
At April 2006


Aberdeen
158
154
151
145
130


Barlinnie
596
600
545
552
573


Cornton Vale
270
255
249
234
257


Dumfries
150
155
153
139
131


Edinburgh 
465
465
433
406
395


Glenochil
459
461
399
386
350


Greenock
193
209
193
186
176


Inverness
109
109
108
108
106


Low Moss
181
174
178
155
158


Open Estate
131
126
124
126
151


Perth 
425
441
440
411
359


Peterhead 
210
219
216
215
197


Polmont 
349
364
409
373
342


Shotts
421
416
395
367
350



  These numbers are actual staff in post including part-time staff. The SPS have been able to achieve staffing efficiencies through the development of a more modern prison estate and more efficient and effective deployment of staff in operational roles. The SPS have also made significant savings achieved in non-operational staff roles.

Public Finance Initiatives

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much has been spent on PFI/PPP projects postponed pending further consideration or stopped in each year since 1999.

Mr Tom McCabe: The operational PPP projects which have been stopped since 1999 are Skye Bridge and Inverness Airport. For the costs associated with the buy-out of the Skye Bridge, I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-14449 on 2 March 2006. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:

  http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.

  Inverness Airport was bought out in January 2006 at a cost to the Scottish Executive of £27 million. In addition, as part of the termination compensation package, a tax liability of £2.857 million has been paid.

  A few PFI/PPP projects have been put to the market for procurement by public sector bodies and then re-started after re-scoping. I understand that in each case this action will have been to ensure that the projects provide up-dated specifications and also value for money, for example, by resulting in increased market competition. The Scottish Executive does not hold details of related costs incurred by the public sector bodies in these cases.

  The Scottish Executive has committed internal resources by way of policy and technical advice on all of these projects, however, detailed costs are not recorded separately.

Rail Services

Rob Gibson (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive Scottish Executive what information it has on how many rail passengers with first class tickets from Inverness have been denied first class seating since January 2006.

Tavish Scott: Provision of first class accommodation is a matter of commercial discretion for First ScotRail and is not required under the terms of the rail franchise agreement. Passengers are advised it is possible to reserve seats in advance to secure a first class seat. Where a first class seat is not available a refund will be provided on request. Transport Scotland has advised First ScotRail of concern expressed about demand exceeding supply for first class seats.

Renewable Energy

Rob Gibson (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much it has paid in subsidies to the renewable energy sector in each of the last seven years, including direct funding, support through the Renewables Obligation (Scotland) scheme and the Scottish Renewables Obligation and funding through the carbon trust, energy savings trust, ITI energy, Highlands and Islands Enterprise, Scottish Enterprise and any other relevant agencies or method of funding.

Nicol Stephen: Figures from the regulator (Ofgem) indicate that the total cost of the Renewables Obligation (Scotland) Order has been just over £109 million from its introduction in 2002-03 to 2004-05. The Executive does not hold information on the value to renewable generators, which is subject to the commercially confidential agreements generators strike with suppliers. In the same period, payments made to Scottish Renewables Order projects from the Fossil Fuel Levy totalled approximately £64 million.

  Since the beginning of financial year 2002-03, the Scottish Executive, its agencies and other bodies funded by the Executive have spent in total around £57 million on activities developing renewable energy in Scotland. This is an estimate, as some spend on renewable energy is a part of larger programmes.

Renewable Energy

Rob Gibson (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what sites are in use by run-of-river hydro-electric schemes.

Nicol Stephen: This information is not held centrally. Under Section 36 of the Electricity Act 1989, Scottish ministers’ consent is required to construct and operate a hydro electric generating station over 1 megawatt (MW) in size. Where a hydro development is below this threshold, as is the case with many run-of-river schemes, application for consent is made to the relevant local planning authority and is considered under the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997.

  However, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency has provided the following list of the site names of the 50 run-of-river schemes in Scotland which have been authorised during the Controlled Activities Regulations (CAR) Transfer Period.

  

Mill Cottage, West Cromwell Park, Perth


Victoria Falls


Wyvis Hydro


Loch Poll


Hearthstanes


Blarghour Farm


Cauldron Linn Hydro


Ashfield Mill, Ashfield, Perthshire


Clachbreck Hydro


Marine Resource Centre, Barcaldine, Oban


Ornochenoch Loch, Rusko Estate


Monzie Hydro Electric


Balgonie Hydro Power Station


Acharn Hydro


Talamh Life Centre, Coalburn, Lanark


Glenborrodale Hydro Scheme


Altchosach


Ormsary Hydro, Lochgilphead


Inver Estate, Lochgilphead


Beochlich


Newbank Mill


Cleghorn Bridge Hydro, Lanark


Forrest Estate


Willowglen


Glen Glass Hydro Ltd


Brooklinn Mill


Glen Kinglas Hydro


Camserney Hydro Scheme


Glenmore Power Station of Kames Farm, Kilmelford, Oban


Maidenholm Mill


Corsock House


Noddsdale Estate


Drimsynie


Deanston Distillery


Eliock


Ashfield Hydro


Blantyre Power Station


Twin Lochs Hydro


Auchtertyre Power Station


Garry Gualach Power Station


Stanley Mills Power Station, Perth


Ring the Glen Tarbert Hydro Electric Scheme, Strontian


Orrin Falls


Garrogie


Braevallich


Inverbain


Catrine Hydropower, Catrine


Govig Hydro, Isle of Harris


Deanston Distillery

Renewable Energy

Rob Gibson (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what potential sites have been identified for the further development of run-of-river hydro-electric schemes.

Nicol Stephen: It is a matter for developers to identify potential sites. However, the Executive continues to support hydropower in Scotland, including the further development of run-of-river schemes. We are currently considering the benefits of commissioning a study to provide evidence of Scotland’s hydropower potential.

Roads

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what arrangements have been put in place to facilitate contact with, and supply of information between, the public in rural areas and the contractors which carry out trunk road maintenance and winter services.

Tavish Scott: The trunk road operating companies have regular contact with members of the public and engage with local community councils on specific issues relating to trunk roads. The operating companies have also produced and widely distributed information leaflets which provide details about their role and contact information. Road signs are located at key locations on the trunk road network with details of the operating company name and a customer contact and defect reporting telephone number.

  Transport Scotland is currently developing a trial scheme in the south of Scotland for the operating companies to provide community councils with a quarterly newsletter updating them on trunk road issues and works. If this proves to be successful this will be rolled out across the whole country.

  The operating companies meet with councils at least four times a year to discuss future works programmes and also provide them with a detailed weekly programme. Councils also have access to an internet site where the trunk road works programme is updated on a daily basis. At a more strategic level. Transport Scotland officials and the representatives from each operating company meet with councils and the police once a year to provide them with a forward programme of works and to discuss any operational issues.

  Information about the trunk road network and larger trunk road projects can also be found on the Transport Scotland website www.transportscotland.gov.uk and on the websites of the operating companies.

  Transport Scotland has operational responsibility for this area and can be contacted for more information if required.

Waste Management

Ms Maureen Watt (North East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many local authorities have established projects to allow small businesses to recycle through kerbside collections.

Ross Finnie: Twenty-two local authorities provide kerbside recyclate collections to businesses. Businesses can find out what recycling facilities are available to them through the Scottish Waste Awareness Group’s business recycling directory, www.wasteawarebusiness.com . As well as local authorities, the private and community sectors can provide businesses with kerbside collections of recyclate.

Waste Management

Ms Maureen Watt (North East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to provide local authorities with funding from the Strategic Waste Fund to allow them to introduce kerbside recycling schemes for small businesses in areas where domestic kerbside recycling is already taking place.

Ross Finnie: No. Under the "polluter pays" principle, businesses must meet the costs of disposing of their own waste. However, we would encourage local authorities to explore the viability of integrating the collection of recyclate from households and businesses whilst ensuring they recover the costs of collecting and disposing of the commercial waste.

  The Scottish Waste Awareness Group has produced a directory of the recycling facilities available to businesses. This directory can be found at www.wasteawarebusiness.com. The Waste and Resources Action Programme has run some trials on the collection of recyclate from SMEs, to ensure that good practice can be shared.

  We also support bodies such as Envirowise and Business Environment Partnership which provide advice to business on how to minimise their waste.

Waterways

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is aware that British Waterways has confirmed that it wishes to see a tunnel or aquaduct at Tomnahurich, rather than another swing bridge, and whether the Executive considers that a swing bridge is a suitable and appropriate option in this instance.

Tavish Scott: I have discussed this matter with the Director of British Waterways in Scotland and am aware of their position. A technical assessment of the proposed Inverness Southern Distributor Road, including the canal crossing, is proceeding through a working group led by Highland Council. I look forward to British Waterways, who are involved in the working group, advising me of their conclusions about the crossing.

Youth Justice

Margaret Jamieson (Kilmarnock and Loudoun) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will extend youth courts to demonstrate its commitment to communities in tackling youth disorder and crime.

Cathy Jamieson: An evaluation of existing Youth Courts in Hamilton and Airdrie has now been completed. The Executive will publish this, and announce a decision on the future of Youth Courts in the near future.

Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body

Community Outreach

Chris Ballance (South of Scotland) (Green): To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body whether a Parliament community outreach event can go ahead where a constituency MSP is unable to attend the event.

Duncan McNeil: As noted in written answer S2W-27528, for purely practical reasons the approach to date in organising community outreach events has been to confirm a suitable date with the constituency MSP and then invite relevant list MSPs. However, some Community outreach events have taken place where the constituency MSP has notified, subsequent to the event being organised, that he or she would be unable to attend.

MSPs

Chris Ballance (South of Scotland) (Green): To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body whether it accords equal status to constituency and list MSPs in all circumstances except those specified in the Code of Conduct for Members of the Scottish Parliament.

George Reid: Yes, with the further exception set out in paragraph 1 of Part B of the Allowances Scheme approved by the Parliament on 21 June 2001.